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How was Jesus a sacrifice?

...and the devil/powers of evil, though the former has varying ideas about who the ransom was paid to. One of the popular theories was that the payment was to the devil, tricking him into freeing people from his power in exchange for Jesus – but death couldn’t hold him and so God wins, and the devil loses. Others say the debt was paid to God himself to free us from his wrath. Personally, I think Revelation 5:9 gives us a hint because it says that the “four living creatures and the twenty-four elders” who are around the throne of God sing a new song in which they say: “by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe”. In a ransom situation,...

7 Ways Jesus Reverses the Curse From Eden

...good and evil, and now they might reach out their hands and take also from the tree of life and eat and live forever”— therefore the Lord God sent them forth from the garden of Eden… 2 Timothy 1:10…but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 7. Jesus gives us access to the Tree of Life again if we follow him, Adam and Eve were denied access by not following God’s commands. Genesis 3:24He drove out the humans, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the t...

Did St. Nicholas Really Slap Arius?

...vercoming evil with good (Rom 12:21), being gentle and not violent (1 Tim 3:3), avoiding quick-temperedness (Titus 1:7), and recognising that a soft answer turns away wrath (Prov 15:1). In this time marked by safe spaces, trigger warnings, and microaggressions, the straightforward honesty and tough demeanour attributed to St. Nicholas in these memes may resonate with those who appreciate a departure from the perceived niceties of modern discourse. The image of St. Nicholas allegedly striking Arius can be seen as a politically incorrect rebuke to what some Christians might see as the Church or society being too “soft” nowadays. Historical Basis However, hi...

Debunking the Crusades: 5 Myths You Probably Believe

...od versus evil, greed, or religious fanaticism. While there were indeed elements of violence, mismanagement, and greed, many participants were driven by deep spiritual convictions. Likewise, the Crusades were not a monolithic war between Christians and Muslims; they involved a wide array of political, social, and economic factors that reshaped both Europe and the Middle East. Overly simplistic views, such as those behind the 1999 Reconciliation Walk, can obscure the true nature of these historical events and reinforce myths, rather than promoting genuine understanding.   Further Reading Madden, Thomas F. The New Concise History of the Crusades. Rowman &a...

From Paradise to Presents: The Christian Story Behind the Christmas Tree

...cannot do evil, nor is it in them to do good. At first glance, the mention of cutting down a tree, decorating it with gold and silver, and securing it in place might seem to describe a Christmas tree if you take a very surface level reading of the text, devoid of context. However, a deeper understanding of the context makes it clear that Jeremiah is not addressing holiday decorations but the creation of idols. Jeremiah and Idolatry Jeremiah’s primary concern in this passage is idolatry — specifically, the practice of carving wooden idols from trees and adorning them with precious metals to be worshipped as gods. The phrase “worked with an axe by the han...

Do Christians And Muslims Really Worship The Same God?

...ul toward evil YHWH: “The LORD is a jealous and avenging God…” — Nahum 1:2 Allah: “For them is a severe punishment.” — Surah 3:4 One/Unique YHWH: “The LORD is one.” — Deuteronomy 6:4 Allah: “Say: He is Allah, One.” — Surah 112:1 Jealous of worship YHWH: “I the LORD your God am a jealous God.” — Exodus 20:5 Allah: “Allah does not forgive association with Him…” — Surah 4:48 Gracious YHWH: “But you, O Lord, are… gracious…” — Psalm 86:15 Allah: “So which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?” — Surah 55:13 Righteous YHWH: “The LORD is righteo...